Chapter 13 - A Voice Through Glass
Noah began gaining weight steadily.
Not quickly.
Nothing in the NICU happened quickly.
But every day brought a number slightly higher than the last.
Sophie kept a chart.
She decorated it with stars.
Each ounce earned one.
When Noah reached another milestone, she added two.
Claire asked what qualified as two-star news.
Sophie answered.
“Anything that makes you cry happy.”
It became official family policy.
Ben met with the mortgage company.
They negotiated a temporary plan.
The house was not saved permanently.
But they had time.
Michael returned to work.
Evelyn began spending mornings with Sophie so Claire and Ben could rest.
Small systems replaced panic.
One afternoon, Sophie sat beside the incubator reading a book aloud.
She read slowly.
Very slowly.
Every third word required help.
Ben sat behind her.
“The dog ran across the…”
Sophie squinted.
“Field.”
“That says yard.”
“Same thing.”
Ben smiled.
“Creative.”
Claire entered carrying coffee.
“Is she changing the story again?”
“I’m improving it.”
Sophie turned the page.
Noah stirred.
His tiny hand moved.
Sophie stopped.
“He likes it.”
Claire approached.
“How do you know?”
“He moved at the good part.”
Ben nodded.
“Hard to argue.”
Sophie returned to reading.
Noah moved again when she raised her voice slightly.
The nurse looked over.
“He may recognize the pattern.”
Sophie beamed.
“I told you.”
Claire sat beside Ben.
“She’s going to bring this up for the rest of her life.”
“Absolutely.”
Then the nurse asked.
“Would Sophie like to speak closer?”
Sophie froze.
“Inside?”
“Not inside the incubator.”
“But you can stand near the opening while we do care.”
Sophie looked at Claire.
“Can I?”
Claire nodded.
“With the nurse.”
Sophie washed her hands with extreme seriousness.
She stood on a small stool.
The nurse opened the access port.
Sophie leaned closer.
Noah was inches away.
For once, she had no words.
Ben whispered.
“Something true.”
Sophie remembered.
She took a breath.
“Hi, Noah.”
His eyelids fluttered.
Sophie gasped.
Claire covered her mouth.
“Hi.”
Sophie continued.
“I’m Sophie.”
“You know that already.”
“I’m your sister.”
Noah moved slightly.
“And we have a house.”
“Maybe.”
Claire smiled.
Sophie kept going.
“You have a room.”
“Daddy says maybe we sell the house, but I said no.”
Ben rubbed his forehead.
“Sophie.”
“What?”
“Maybe skip finances.”
She nodded.
“Okay.”
She looked at Noah.
“Grandma is bossy.”
Evelyn, entering at that exact moment, stopped.
“I heard that.”
Sophie grinned.
Noah moved again.
Everyone laughed.
Then his eyes opened.
Only briefly.
Barely.
But they opened.
Sophie stopped breathing.
“He looked at me.”
The nurse smiled.
“He may not see clearly yet.”
“He looked at me.”
No one argued.
Sophie began crying.
Not frightened crying.
Happy crying.
Claire hugged her from behind.
Ben leaned closer.
“That’s two stars.”
Sophie nodded vigorously.
“Three.”
Evelyn approached.
“Make it four.”
That evening, they added four stars to the chart.
For the first time, Sophie drew Noah with open eyes.
Later, after she fell asleep, Claire and Ben sat beside the window.
“You know what scares me?”
Ben asked.
“Everything?”
“Fair.”
He looked at her.
“That this experience changes us for a few weeks.”
“And then we go back.”
Claire knew exactly what he meant.
“To not talking.”
“Yeah.”
“To hiding bills.”
“To pretending.”
“Yeah.”
Claire held out her hand.
“No more.”
Ben took it.
“No more.”
“If you’re scared, say scared.”
“If you’re angry, say angry.”
“If you need help, say help.”
“If you’re being an idiot?”
“I’ll tell you.”
“Generous.”
Claire smiled.
Then she became serious.
“I don’t know if we’re okay yet.”
“I know.”
She raised an eyebrow.
He laughed.
“Sorry.”
She squeezed his hand.
“I’m not asking for guarantees.”
“Neither am I.”
“Just stay.”
Ben looked through the glass at Noah.
“I promised.”
Inside the NICU, Noah’s monitor beeped steadily.
One small sound after another.
A rhythm.
May you like
A voice.
A promise spoken by a body still learning how to stay.
